Probate cost calculator

Why the same estate costs four times as much in one state as another

The court filing fee is set by each state independently, and the structures are not remotely comparable. Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory charge a flat fee regardless of estate size. The other five tier it by value, and the tiers are steep. A million-dollar estate crosses into a fee band that costs several thousand dollars in Victoria and nothing extra in Western Australia.

Two practical consequences. First, the fee follows where the assets are, not where you live, so an executor in Perth administering a Sydney estate pays New South Wales fees. Second, small estates often pay nothing at all: the fee-free thresholds are $100,000 in New South Wales, $250,000 in Victoria and $50,000 in the ACT, which does most of the work for modest estates.

What lawyers actually charge

Most probate firms now quote fixed fees rather than hourly rates. A grant-only engagement, where the firm gets the grant and you administer the estate yourself, typically runs $1,500 to $3,000 plus GST. Full administration, where the firm collects the assets, pays the debts and distributes, runs $4,000 to $8,000 and upwards with complexity. Letters of administration, needed where there is no will, usually costs $300 to $800 more than probate because of the extra affidavits.

Hourly-rate retainers are still offered by general firms. For a routine grant a fixed quote is almost always cheaper, and asking for a fixed quote up front is the single most effective thing you can do to control the cost.

You may not need probate at all

Before paying for anything, check whether a grant is actually required. Every bank sets its own threshold and they vary enormously, from $100,000 at the major banks down to $20,000 at People First Bank and $15,000 per holding at MUFG. If the bank accounts are the whole estate and every balance sits under the relevant threshold, you may be able to avoid probate entirely. Solely-owned real estate is the usual thing that forces a grant regardless. Start with do I need probate and the bank threshold tables.

Use this calculator on your own site

If you are a funeral director, accountant, financial adviser or bereavement service, you are welcome to embed the calculator free of charge. It covers all eight states, collects nothing from your visitors unless they choose to request quotes, and the only condition is that you keep the attribution link.

General information only - not legal advice. Court fees change on 1 July each year and bank thresholds move without notice; confirm both before relying on a figure. getprobatehelp.com.au may receive a marketing fee from law firms that receive enquiries through this site.